#movethedial – the global movement dedicated to advancing the participation and leadership of all women in technology – has announced the theme for 2019’s Global Summit, which takes place next month (14th November 2019) in Toronto, Canada. The summit’s theme ‘Going All In‘, will challenge individuals and organisations to go beyond what they are currently doing and take an ‘all-in’ approach to diversity and inclusion (D&I), and raise the bar, said the organiser.
The summit aims to showcase the power of ‘going all in’ through inspiring speakers who will provide actionable insights to encourage attendees to push beyond the current diversity conversation, and take meaningful action that will move the dial for everyone, across all identities and intersectionalities represented in the tech ecosystem.
It will also inspire action on how to better support, mentor and advance all women-identified employees, as well as encourage young girls to pursue careers in STEM.
MAIN STAGE ‘HEADLINERS’
According to the organiser, this year’s speaker list features thought-provoking change-makers and industry leaders who champion D&I in technology, finance, the arts, media, and social activism.
Speakers include Endeavor’s Chief Marketing Officer Bozoma Saint John, who has earned a ‘formidable’ reputation as a trailblazing marketing and advertising executive, particularly noted for her work at Uber, Apple Music, and Pepsi-Cola North America. She will share her career journey and discuss why companies should be proactively promoting women in tech, together with her colleague Justina Omokhua, SVP Brand Marketing at Endeavor.
Sisters Erin and Sara Foster, both Heads of Creative at Bumble and Bumble Bizz, will also share their experience of working alongside CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd, to grow and elevate the Bumble brand. As former TV stars, the sisters will also discuss what it takes to build strong technologies and brands that speak to female consumers.
Airbnb’s Head of Global Diversity and Belonging, Melissa Thomas-Hunt, will reveal how the organisation is ‘going all in’ on inclusion and belonging from a budget and metrics perspective.
Google’s Director of UX design, Kat Holmes, will address the unintended consequences of bias, and why inclusive design is essential for every business. Actor, philanthropist, writer, producer and human rights advocate Angelica Ross will share her views on the tech landscape from a transgender perspective.
Ceridian’s President Leagh Turner will share the steps she took that enabled her to rise to the top as a tech leader at the helm of a billion-dollar software company.
WOMEN WHO TECH
In addition to the strong line-up of speakers, the summit will feature a ‘unique’ workshop for women senior executives in technical roles, providing a unique environment for women who tech to talk candidly about their experiences and discuss solutions. This Women Who Tech networking zone will also bring together like-minded professionals to connect, network and learn from each other throughout the day.
“Last year’s summit featured speakers that reinforced the progress made by the tech community in creating an ecosystem that values diversity and inclusion at all levels,” said Jodi Kovitz, Founder and CEO of #movethedial. “It is our goal at this year’s summit to push the conversation further. We know that diversity and inclusion are good for business, but we want to showcase the power of going all in on these aspects and demonstrate why it’s important to provide solutions that address everyone across identities and intersectionalities.”
Founded in 2017, #movethedial has a large and growing number of leading Canadian corporate and technology partners. In addition to its events, #movethedial leverages the power of shared experiences to connect people through storytelling. This initiative has resulted in an estimated 20,000 people engaging in the movement across Canada, the US, Japan, the UK and Israel, confirmed the organiser.
The event will take place at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall on 14th November 2019 from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.
For more information on the summit, speaker line-up or tickets, click here.
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